Vision for Natural Living and Future for Food - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Vision for Natural Living and Future for FoodBy Gauri Sarin

2. WHY?Climate ChangeInc. in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD)• NCD deaths account for 80% Deaths globally• Even in Covid-19 Deaths, 80% associated with people existing issues.Mental Health PandemicThe entire ecosystem has to be TransformedNatural farming is a part of a natural ecosystem for producers, suppliers and consumersTo reduce and reverse the effects of

3. IMPACT CREATED BY BHUMIJAA & LWMEstablished Various Networks •30,000+ Agripreneurs connected with over 2 to 5 lakh farmers connected in our n/w •Gaushala Network•Herbal Network •Food Forest Network•Food Processing•Agri Technologies•Desi Beej Network• Network of Women• Network of Bee-Keepers(Can be deepened by increasing awareness)Bhumijaa•Over 20 thousand transactions of B2B Exchanges.• B2B tech platform coming up.• Mentoring and capacity building of Agripreneurs and creation of OrganicAgriprenuers & Consumers’ Association• Creating entire reseller n/w for farms and farmer groups with no market linkages. (HP Apple growers, Chattisgarh, Barmer RJ, MH Fruits, Millets from AP, TN Oils)•Training of newcomers and over 150 women agripreneurs on the 6 pillars of Natural farming.• Encouraging farmers to grow and market perishablesLiving Without Medicine• Shifting of food habits by increasing awareness through events and educative webinars and giving access to natural foods.• Coaching and Mentoring for NCD through nutrition and engaging experts in Nutrition, Ayurveda, Naturopathy.• Promoting traditional varieties of foods, superfoods, herbs and shift into plant based diets.• 15 Local Healthy communities of more than across different cities with linkages with farmers and farmer groups locally• Outreach of 20,000 x 5 end customers• Local access to growers and sellers hence B2C opportunities, farm2fork models thus doubling farmer’s income One of the Largest non-commercial network across India connect farmer, agripreneurs and consumers.

4. 6 Pillars of Natural Ecosystem

5. B2B Xchange: India’s most comprehensive portal for organic agribusiness  1. Facilitate b2b among Bhumijaa verified members 2. Transparent system of product listing by agripreneurs with search modality 3. Value chain agripreneurs and larger buyers get access to best organic sellers 4. Rationalise price points and improves access 5. Promote ethical business practices 6. Target to host upwards of 10000 sellers, retailers, farmers, transporters, agri machinery, food processing, logistics providers7. Phase II - Job market and mentoring services8. Nominal entry fee and revenue earning for sustainability 9. Referral incentives

6. Going Beyond Chemical FreeImpact of Natural Farming on Nutrition “One variety of rice needs no water, just moisture. 35 varieties need no water. They are drought tolerant. Four or five varieties are saline tolerant and can grow in areas like Sunderbans where the back water from the sea comes in”.- Bhairab Saini, Farmer & Desi Beej Collector, WB“We have got 15 varieties from farmers and have got lab reports for three varieties — Navarra, Mapillai Samba and Kaala Bhat. Black rice has vitamin B6. Kaala Bhat has high fibre content and is good for diabetics”-BV Shankar of Sham Bhoo (Auspicious Earth)

7. Group/Location of FarmersHow or what we helped withAP farmersProvided market linkages for selling millets and oilsMaharashtraFruits supply chainsTribal Women, NagpurMarket creation for Mahua LaddoosHaryanaPromoting honey of beekeepers & moringa and market linkage with GurgaonSikkimInnovation BuckwheatTamil NaduLinkage for palm Jaggery into North IndiaKarnalInnovative idea of JuiceboxHimachal PradeshSupply chain, cold storage and reseller network across India for apple farmersBarmer, RJMarket for Bilona GheeHow Bhumijaa and LWM work together for B2C:And the list goes on!ChhattisgarhMarket linkage of chironji and Rice VarietiesUttar PradeshPromoting the rice variety called Kala NamakKashmirMarket linkage for Dry FruitsHaryana & UPCreating markets in Delhi NCR

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9. ChallengesOpportunities1. Higher price to consumer1. New Market opening due to consumer awareness on health.2. More labour intensive2. Organised Women SHGs in food processing and Emerging FPOs an answer to organisational problems.3. Current Status of water and soil. E.g.3. Higher Returns to farmers4. Underdeveloped Supply chains and delivery to point of purchase4. Demands for more diverse varieties of food.5. Unethical practices5. People ready to give greater value for traceable natural food.6. Gestation period for realisation of value and initially less yield per acre.6. Untapped varieties emerging on the palette domestically and internationally (huge export potential).7. No organising force7. Rural youth and young urbanized ex-rural people see entrepreneurial promise8. Lack of demand-based crop planning (low diversity)8. Improved awareness and soil education.9. Certification cost9. Removing middle-men via Farm2Fork10. Lack of access to decision making inputs.10. Rising demand for innovation, processed foods, ready to cook, super foods

10. Farmers Speak!Some of the Natural Farmers associated with Bhumijaa share their insights!“ Ideal yield of a Guava tree should be 200kg/Year. During Chemical farming I only got 50 kg now after 4 years of natural farming I am getting more than double- 120 Kg/Year. I hope to reach the ideal yield very soon but due to high cost of logistics from my village to cities I am forced to sell my yield locally at throwaway prices.”- Amogh Nandakumar Gurave, Ahmednagar dist , MH “I cultivate various indigenous varieties of rice in my 30-acre farm, like black rice, medicinal rice, scented rice, etc. but I found it very hard at first to look for “Desi Beej”. Now I am exporting to different countries and have around 70-80 loyal customers! Making Desi Beej available is of utmost importance!”- Birendra Singh, Chattisgarh“Cows are extremely important to make Natural Farming sustainable. The Gaumutra and Gobar can be used to create natural fertilizers and plus the milk is a real bonus for the farmer!”- Shankar Reddy, Raichur, KN

11. Natural Foods EcosystemAll tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3 cities.Target Middle and Upper Class- 25% of the cities in the next 3 yearsVocal for Local

12. Shift to low carb diet:Refined oil to cold pressed oilsGrains to Millets, Barley, Buckwheat (Low Gluten)Polished rice to traditional semi polished and unpolished nutrient rich rice varieties (Red rice, Black rice, Kala Namak Rice, Navvara etc..Standard wheat to Khapli, Paigambari, Black wheat ectc.Conventional ghee to A2 Desi Cow Bilona GheeSeasonal Vegetables and fruitsSugar to Jaggery and Palm JaggeryUse of Seeds, Nuts and spices.Superfoods like Moringa and medicinal herbs.Foods for specific NCDs and cure-oriented foodsTargeted nutrient rich foods: E.g. avocados, jackfruit, ashguard, Raw foods, green juices. MicrogreensNatural ready to cook preservative free mixesHuge opportunities for Natural Foodpreneurs!Shifting Food Habits:A Living Without Medicine Initiative

13. Future of Food: Global trends in Healthy foodsGrow your own food, urban farming, reverse flowSoil health :key to nutrition Return of herbs and nature cureTraditional foods, Back to RootsFarm2fork- small and big, use of technologyFood forests and nutrientsReady to cook- minimum damage to processed foodWhole plant based diets, vegetarianism, veganismWellness industry and diets such as keto, IF, modern researchAyurvedic lifestyles becoming popularNatural disease reversalCatch them youngNutraceuticals industry

14. RecommendationsEducation and OutreachAll Agri-Universities need to introduce a course on Natural Farming (NF) and include the same in the BSc. Degrees.Introduce agriculture and specifically NF into all school curriculums.All Agri-Business Schools, at least all govt. supported institutions need to have a clear inclusion of Natural products-based training to establish its importance. NF needs to be taught as an ecosystem with six pillars and not just as techniques. (Gaushala, Desi Beej, Beekeeping, Food Forest, 5-layer food model, Biodiversity, water conservation etc.)Mentorship Program: Team of NF Mentors in every district to guide farmers.Training on Demand based diversified crop planning.Train NGOs with wide reach in youth and women in NF through FPOs, SHGs etc.. Education on Nutrition per Acre Vs Yield per AcreInfrastructure and Supply Chains Create separate hubs of Natural food supply chains, lab testing facilities, warehousing, cold storage, food processing integrated with Natural FPOs. Creation of a whole plan to reduce costs and create demarcation between natural products and others. Supportive technologies mapping, weather forecast, Integrated pest management technologies etc.

15. Indigenous Varieties, Desi Beej and Food ForestsEstablish a high-quality Museum in India to showcase and promote indigenous varieties of India. State-Level committee on indigenous varieties.Create a bigger Desi Beej Exchange with one Desi Beej Centre in every district.Food forest incentive programNutrition research on traditional varietiesVijay Jhardhariji of Beej Bachao AndolanRice Seed Collection from Bhairab Saini, Bankura, West BengalRecommendations

16. RecommendationsMarketingNeed of a formal and transparent B2B Exchange as being worked on by Bhumijaa.Scaling up of B2C (Farm2Fork) Model to attach farm clusters to cities. Promote local foodpreneurship and increase sales of natural fruits and vegetables.Strengthen Leverage Incentivise FPOs and SHGs to train women and rural youth to reach out to local market areas.Focus traditional varieties of foods that are forgotten and nutrient rich.Plan to become a global leader in exports with focus on Super foods and herbs.Promote Organic stores, Farmer’s markets and ecommerceConsumer Awareness and Demand CreationCreation of Health Communities as done by LWM to spread knowledge and information and create awareness and demand.Better segmentation in Market into different needs and demographics to help grow foodpreneurs.Research on Nutrition.Create traceability and trust through mapping of farms, lab testing and certification. Add the word ‘Natural’ to the certification.Government institutions like schools, hospitals can procure foods directly from Local Natural farms.Use of Social media to encourage Millet Cafes, Millet cooking workshops, Ayurveda lifestyle nutrition, children to eat organic.Push large corporates to switch to organic, especially hospitality and aviation sectors.